Before I Let Go (Skyland #1)(60)

“Okay,” I agreed, but I made no move to do as he said.

“Adara.”

My gaze snapped up to meet his at the sound of my name, and I pressed the sheet against my chest. There was so much anger and fear in his eyes, and my chest tightened as I saw it.

“There’s nothing he can do.” My voice shook as I climbed to my knees. “You and I are to be married, and there is nothing he can do.”

Evren shook his head as he watched me. “I wish that were true, but we both know that he’s capable of things we can’t even fathom. I fear what he has if he thinks I would be willing to trade you for it.”

“He doesn’t know.” I caught myself before I said something stupid and swallowed hard. “He has no idea that I intend to marry you.”

His gaze darkened, and he closed the space between us with a few short steps. “He doesn’t know how I feel about you.” He leaned down and pressed his fists into the mattress, his face mere inches from mine. “Is that what you mean to say?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but I felt foolish. I slowly shook my head, but Evren reached forward and caught my jaw in his hand. He held it firmly until I was forced to look up at him.

“Because you are right. He doesn’t have a clue.” His thumb ran along my bottom lip. “There is nothing in this world or the next that he can offer me that would make me be willing to give you up. He cannot cause me to falter in what I feel for you, princess.”

I couldn’t catch my breath. I could hardly remember to do anything other than beg him to stay as I stared up at him.

“Get dressed and let’s head to the throne room. We shouldn’t be ill-prepared when he arrives.”

“Okay.” I nodded, but neither of us made a move to leave.

He was still so close, still watching me, and his finger still roamed over my lip.

“Princess,” he groaned softly, and my gaze fell to his lips.

“Promise me.” I reached a hand out and wrapped it around the back of his neck. The sheet fell from my chest, but I made no move to fix it as I pulled him closer to me. “Promise me that no matter what he says, you won’t let him take me.”

It was selfish to ask that of him. Selfish for me to even think, but I couldn’t stop the fear that was coursing through every inch of me.

He leaned closer until his mouth pressed against mine. “I swear it.” His words were a murmur against my lips. “With all that I am, princess, I swear that he will never touch you again. I will stop at nothing to keep you safe.”

My hands trembled against him, and every breath felt like it took effort as I held him to me. “I don’t want to be without you.”

He groaned, and his hand tightened against my face. “Nor I you.”

His lips pressed hard against mine, smothering the fear and worry with want, and I whimpered against his lips as my thighs pressed together.

This want I had for him, it was insistent and greedy. It was unlike anything I had ever felt before.

I knew if we gave in to this want, we would never leave the room. We would be exactly as he feared. Completely unprepared for his brother's arrival.

“We should go and meet everyone.”

Evren nodded against me, but the way he lingered told me he was as hesitant to leave me as I was him. In this room, in these moments we had alone, there was nothing but the two of us. The rest of the world is what destroyed us. It was the rest of the world that caused me to doubt.

But I couldn't bring that doubt to the surface of this moment. All I knew was I was his and he was mine, and he would do as he promised. He would protect me at all costs, and I was selfish for asking that of him.

I climbed out of bed quickly and threw on yesterday's clothes as Evren finished strapping weapons to his body. I slipped on my boots, and he held my dagger in my direction. I slid it into my boot before standing up next him and taking his hand in mine.

“You stay at my side.” He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. “No matter what, you stay at my side.”

I nodded because there was no way that I could leave him. Not now. Not with all this fear coursing through me. He was my safety, and I could feel it with every part of me.

We left his room hand in hand and made our way down to the throne room. Everyone was already inside sitting at the table, murmuring over maps and arguing over plans.

Mina and a few others were scurrying about the room, bringing in food and drink and placing them on the table. She looked flustered, her hands wringing against her apron and her normally pinned-back hair loose against her face. I stopped before her and let my hand slip from Evren’s.

I grabbed her arms in my hands and bent until we were eye to eye. “Thank you, Mina.”

She blinked up at me rapidly and her face turned ashen. I didn't know if it was fear for her kingdom or her prince or maybe even me, but it was fear just the same.

“I'm going to grab some tea.” She pushed her hair her out of her face. “Everyone could use some calming tea.” Her gaze searched the room, and I knew this was the only way Mina could help in that moment.

“That would be lovely.”

She walked past me, and Evren snatched my hand back in his.

“Mina is scared,” I whispered to him, and he nodded.

“Everyone is scared, princess. It is how we choose to use that fear that will define us. It is how we choose to use it that will determine the fate of our world.”